SA Report: Speechless in Sequoia - Day 1, Day 2, Day 3

Trip Date: 7/4/2014

Location: Sequoia National Park

Permit/Pass: $20 Vehicle Pass - valid 1 through 7 days. Valid for Sequoia, Kings Canyon, and the Hume Lake District of Sequoia National Forest/Giant Sequoia National Monument.

$10 Individual Entry Pass - valid 1 through 7 days. Per person entrance fee for a visitor traveling on foot, bicycle, motorcycle, or for individuals traveling together in a vehicle as a non-commercial, organized group.

Trail Map: NPS, AmericanSouthwest.net

Directions: From California Highway 99 in the San Joaquin Valley take exit 96 onto CA-198 E towards Visalia. Continue to the Ash Mountain entrance of Sequoia National Park. From here drive the Generals Highway into the park about 19.2 miles to a right turn onto Wolverton Rd. Take Wolverton Rd. 1.4 miles to the parking area for the Lakes Trail trailhead.

Synopsis: A trip into the beginning of the Tablelands of Sequoia NP. Pristine backcountry lakes rimmed with tall granite walls and, during early summer, spectacular wildflower displays make this a great short, or beginner's, backpacking trip with a huge payoff.

Trail sequence: Lakes Trail

Type: Out and back

Distance: 10.4 miles

Elevation: Min. -  7276', Max. - 9391'

Profile:

  Out:

  Back:

Rating: Moderate-Difficult (factors: altitude, elevation gain, drop-offs)

Trail Notes: Trail climbs steadily, but does so over a comfortable grade. Some precipitous cliffside sections that might trouble those with a fear of heights. 

Lakes Trail - Sequoia National Park

Turn by Turn:

  Out:

  -- Find the trailhead on the north side of the parking lot. Be sure to move any food or items with a scent into the bear boxes provided there.

  -- The trail ascends gradually from the trailhead signboard (take the time to use the boot-brush here) for a few tens of yards before taking a sharp turn to the right (east) on the ridge. 

  -- After about a mile the trail turns to the southeast, eventually arriving at a junction with the trail to Panther Gap (on the right) at a bit over a mile and a half. Turn left (north) to stay on the Lakes Trail.

  -- Soon you arrive at another junction, this time offering two routes to the upper lakes. On the right is the Hump trail, a steeper and less scenic, but also shorter option. On the left is the Watchtower trail, with a gentler grade and amazing views. To follow this guide, stay left and take the Watchtower route north.

  -- At about three and a half miles you arrive at the Watchtower, an amazing site for a break and some food. If you've taken the Tokopah Falls hike, from which you observed the Watchtower from below, this reverse view is almost mind-bending. When you're able to tear yourself away from the spectacle, continue up a couple of switchbacks as the trail turns back toward the east.

  -- A quarter mile or so later the rocky trail hugs some very steep drops. Take care along this route in wet or snowy conditions.

  -- Heather Lake is reached at about 4.25 miles. The trail works its way around the north side of the lake, then climbs over a ridge east of Heather before dropping down to Emerald Lake. There is a sign noting the location of campsites and bear boxes.

  Back:

  -- After breaking down and packing up your campsite, make sure you've left nothing in the bear box (don't leave "free food." It crowds the box and forces someone else to pack out your discards).

  -- Head back out along the trail, pass the turnoff for the bathroom, and work your way back up the ridge for the mile or so trip back to Heather Lake.

  -- After passing north along Heather Lake, keep an eye out for the fork in the trail where you have the option of taking the Hump trail back down (shorter, steeper, less scenic, but safer in wet or snowy weather). To follow this guide, stay right to return to the Watchtower.

  -- After the Watchtower, the trail drops gradually to the west, passing a junction with the Hump trail on the left, then meeting the trail to Panther Gap at about 3.25 miles (2 from the Watchtower. Turn right (northwest) to stay on the Lakes Trail.

  -- Another mile and three quarters of gradual descent through the Wolverton Basin brings the hiker to the sharp left (south) turn down the hill and back to the trail head.

Campsite info: 10 Assigned sites (Emerald Lake)

Photo Gallery: Flickr

Video: Youtube